Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,149 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,507 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,204 per month in Appleton, WI vs $3,577 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,259 per month in Appleton, WI vs $4,647 in Hamilton, rent included.

Appleton, WI is about 14% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Appleton, WI and Hamilton sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 60%, Hamilton by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.75 $17.75

$18.39 CA$25.58

-3.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 $57.5

$74.6 CA$104

-22.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$10.84 CA$15.08

-9.23%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$4.03 CA$5.60

21.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.10 CA$2.92

24.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.73 CA$2.40

13.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.73 CA$7.97

-20.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$6.49 CA$9.03

-22.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$2.23 CA$3.10

-59.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.11 CA$2.93

94.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.00 CA$4.18

78.67%

Eggs

$4.63 $4.63

$3.20 CA$4.45

44.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 $14.23

$7.76 CA$10.79

83.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$11.64 CA$16.18

30.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$14.37 CA$19.98

-21.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.86 CA$5.36

39.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.31 CA$1.82

-1.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.58 CA$4.98

18.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.73 CA$5.19

16.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.64 CA$3.67

-4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.20 CA$3.05

24.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.22 CA$3.09

13.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.00 CA$2.78

-31.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 $14.93

$13.59 CA$18.90

9.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 $14.76

$13.08 CA$18.19

12.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.47 CA$3.44

-31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.01 CA$4.18

12.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.56 CA$3.56

-2.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.65 $34.65

$86.2 CA$120

-59.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.58 CA$4.98

-10.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.21 CA$1.69

17.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.68 $24.68

$24.51 CA$34.09

0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.15 CA$1.60

-25.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.3K $23.3K

$25.0K CA$34.7K

-6.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$20.9K CA$29.1K

19.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$155 $155

$150 CA$209

3.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.18 $45.18

$38.86 CA$54.1

16.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$53.0 CA$73.7

24.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 $17.08

$36.45 CA$50.7

-53.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 CA$30.42

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 $13.91

$11.73 CA$16.32

18.58%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$644 CA$896

225.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$22.4K CA$31.1K

73.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 $40.44

$56.6 CA$78.7

-28.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 $25.14

$34.04 CA$47.34

-26.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$97.3 CA$135

-6.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$120 CA$168

-11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$1,346 CA$1,872

12.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 $990

$1,306 CA$1,816

-24.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 $1,810

$2,056 CA$2,859

-11.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 $1,636

$1,970 CA$2,740

-16.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$2,754 CA$3,830

-18.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,279 $2,279

$2,768 CA$3,850

-17.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

$2,916 CA$4,055

38.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.62

-1.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Appleton, WI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,514 in Appleton, WI versus $1,346 in Hamilton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Appleton, WI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Appleton, WI versus $75.0 in Hamilton. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Appleton, WI vs $343 in Hamilton – so Hamilton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Appleton, WI vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hamilton is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,224 per month in Appleton, WI and $3,760 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,149 in Appleton, WI and $2,507 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 149% less in Appleton, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Appleton, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,149, than in Hamilton at $2,507. In Appleton, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Appleton, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.